Amid the recent allegations made against Nickelodeon and Dan Schneider in ‘Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV’, Melissa Joan Hart is revealing what her experience was like working for the network.
If you watched the docuseries, you know that former producer Dan Schneider was accused of creating a toxic work environment on some of his shows, as well as faced allegations of inappropriate behavior and misconduct, particularly involving young actors.
Melissa Joan Hart Speaks On ‘Quiet On Set’
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Many child stars including Drake Bell spoke out in the docuseries to share their experiences working for Nickelodeon. Following the popularity of the bombshell documentary, former Nickelodeon star Melissa Joan Hart is speaking out on the claims.
“I absolutely trust them, believe them, a hundred percent,” Hart, who starred in five seasons of Nickelodeon’s ‘Clarissa Explains It All’ in the 1990s, said on Meghan McCain’s podcast. “I don’t know other people’s experiences, and I’m not negating anything anyone else says.”
She went on, “I’ve never been told these people’s stories that are in the documentary. And I have to say, I’ve never heard a story from a Nickelodeon star personally. No one’s come to me and talked to me about any of these situations.”
Melissa Joan Hart Says Her Nickelodeon Experience Was Different
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Perhaps her experience differed from those who spoke out in the docuseries because her show was filmed in Orlando, Florida, while many others were filmed in Hollywood.
“I think maybe there was a difference between Hollywood Nickelodeon and Orlando Nickelodeon, although I’m not a hundred percent sure on that,” Hart suggested. “When I was doing it, a lot of the executives were in New York…. In Orlando, I had nothing but a wonderful experience.”
While she had a good experience with Nickelodeon, she did admit the network “[worked] the kids a lot harder than they probably…should.” But, the cast and crew “were protective of me” and she felt “very safe” on set.
“So I don’t know if it was the difference in Orlando or the time period—or whoever these guys were, they weren’t around,” she continued. “But I have to say, not every egg in the Nickelodeon basket is rotten. There were some good eggs.”
Dan Schneider Breaks Silence On ‘Quiet On Set’
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Following the release of ‘Quiet On Set’, Dan Schneider sat down with BooG!E, who played T-Bo on the hit series, ‘iCarly’ to address the claims regarding his past behaviors.
“Watching over the past two nights was very difficult,” he said, referencing the bombshell docuseries. “Me facing my past behaviors, some of which are embarrassing and that I regret, I definitely owe some people a pretty strong apology.”
Schneider was creating a toxic work environment, verbal abuse, racism, favoritism, and inappropriate behavior toward young actors. He said he “could see the hurt in some people’s eyes and it made me feel awful and regretful and sorry.”
“I wish I could go back, especially to those earlier years of my career, and bring the growth and the experience that I have now and just do a better job and never, ever feel like it was okay to be an a–hole to anyone, ever,” he added.
Dan Schneider Addresses Massage Allegations
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Former cast accused Schneider of asking the younger crew for massages, which he addressed in his apology. “It was wrong that I ever put anyone in that position. It was a wrong thing to do. I’d never do it today. I’m embarrassed that I did it then.”
He added that he wants to “apologize to anybody that I ever put in that situation.”
“Additionally, I apologize to the people who were walking around Video Village or wherever they happened because there were lots of people who witnessed it who may have also felt uncomfortable,” he continued, “So I owe them an apology as well.”
Nickelodeon Breaks Silence On Allegations
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Following the allegations made by many former Nickelodeon actors, actresses, crew, and staff, the network released a statement to USA Today:
“Though we cannot corroborate or negate allegations of behaviors from productions decades ago, Nickelodeon as a matter of policy investigates all formal complaints as part of our commitment to fostering a safe and professional workplace environment free of harassment or other kinds of inappropriate conduct.”
‘Quiet On Set: The Dark Side Of Kids TV’ is streaming on MAX.